Mauryan Administration - Part 1.

Everyone wants to know and has great curiosity that how Mauryan, the winner of Magadha (Nand dynesty) and  Seleucus (the general of Alexander and after his death Ruler of Iran Mesopotamia and Syria) and ruler of greater India Arunanchal to Afghanistan (Hindukush Mountain, the natural boundary of India) ‘which even Britisher’s couldn’t achieve’ ruled the country, India.

Mahavansatika says ‘सकले जम्बदीपस्मिं रञ्ज समिभिसिंचि सो ‘means Chandragupta was the ruler of the whole ‘Jambudeepa’ (Indian sub continent or Bharta).  Justin says – ‘......in possession of India’. 

Chanakaya says ‘तस्यां हिमवत् समुदरान्तरं उदीचीनं योजनसहस्त् परिमानं अतियॅक् चकवतिॅछतरम्’.

Rudradaman’s Junagarh inscription says that this area is under Chandragupta’s rule.

How was Mauryan Administration?

Really it’s not easy to rule a country which is near about equal to entire Europe.

A country of diverse culture, tradition, language, thought and races. So it’s really surprising, how the country was under one rule and the capital was in the Eastern side “the great Patliputra” from where India is ruled for near about 1,000 years.

In those ancient time in BC 322 how difficult it was to handle this big state. Communication was not like of modern age nor was the roads.

There was a grand network of roads, which were marked with pillars at every 10 stadia.

The roads were provided with shady groves and wells. There was hospital for both men and animal. The fastest source of communication was postman or soldier on the back of horses with Royal letter or letters.

Control was maintained over the most distant officials by an army of secret reporters, itinerant (traveller with a regular route) judges. Certainly the central rule was strong and no one dare to challenge it. Hospital were everywhere in the empire for men and animal.

During the Chandragupta period the nation was building, there were wars and administration was under the strict guidance of ‘great Chanakaya’ the Guru, Philosopher, Guide and Acharya of Emperor Chandragupta who was looking after the work of nation and was building it.

He was the ‘Mukhaya Amatya’ (Prime Minister) of Mauryan Empire.  We also know him as the author of ‘Arthsastra’ a great book on Administration, Politics, Diplomacy and Economics.

 Chanakaya is also known as Kautalya and Vishnugupta. 

The whole India from North to South, East to West (Arunanchal to Afghanistan, Hindukush Mountain; the natural boundary of India) was under the one Mauryan rule which saw the first true Empire and the first true Emperor.

Mauryan rule was totally centralised and was divided into many sub states. During the period of Ashoka the nation was divided into 5 states or administrative zones. Patliputra was the capital.

5 states or zones are –

(1).Uttrapath (Northern areas) – Kamboja, Gandhara, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Punjab etc.

Taxsila was the capital of this zone.

(2). Avanti – Rastra – Kathiawar, Gujarat, Malwa and Rajputana (today’s Rajasthan).

(3). Dakshinapath – In it were the total areas of southern side of mountain Vindhya.  Suvernagiri was its capital.

(4). Kalinga – Tosali was its capital.

(5). Madhyadesh – in it were Today’s Uttarpradesh and Prachya Pradesh (Bihar – Bengal). Patliputra was its capital.

Each state or zone was divided into many Janpada (district).

Under Janpada there were many small administrative blocks.

They are –

a. Sthanaya – In it there were 800 villages.

b. Dronmukh – In it 400 villages.

c. Kharotik – Under it were 200 villages.

d. Sangrah – Under it were 100 villages.

e. Village – This is the smallest unit of administration.

This way Emperor had control over the nation. He was getting news from all over and from each corner of the state and his orders was advertised or circulated to the last people of the nation. In his inscriptions Ashoka writes that ‘The order of the king is above all orders’. Kautalya or Chanakaya called king ‘Dharma Pravaratak’ (king is known as Promulgator of social order).

In Arthsastra ‘Chanakaya’ declares “ Whatever pleases himself the king shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his subjects he shall consider as good”. The king is also advised to show fatherly kindness to his people.